The Official Local Voters’ Pamphlet for the primary election includes statements for and against Proposition 1, which would impose a 0.1 percent increase in the sales tax to fund arts, science and cultural education.

The statement against Proposition 1 states “it is unwise and inequitable to impose another $500 million regressive sales tax increase on overburdened King County taxpayers.”

The ironic thing about that statement is that its coauthor is State Sen. Dino Rossi, of the 45th Legislative District. Rossi and his Republican colleagues opposed the Democrats’ proposed capital gains tax and the repeal of numerous tax breaks for special interests. The Dems’ changes would have made our tax system less regressive.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says Washington is the most regressive tax system in the nation. Politicians and the voters need to wise up and make sure the rich pay their fair share. The poorest 20 percent of non-elderly Washingtonians pay 17 percent of their income in state taxes; the richest 1 percent pay under 3 percent of their income in state taxes.

Donald Smith

Bellevue